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July 19, 2025
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Ahead of Trump inauguration, civil rights leaders praise President Biden’s historic commutations for people serving outdated prison terms and historical grant of clemency for individuals in the federal prison system

by Tanya0474

WASHINGTON – On January 19, President Biden announced the historical grant of clemency for 7 individuals in the federal prison system, fortifying his legacy.

The announcement followed the  previous day’s decision to commute the sentences of nearly 2,500 people convicted of non-violent drug offenses who are serving disproportionately long sentences. The J2C (Justice & a 2nd Chance) Coalition considers this the newest development in President Biden’s work to deliver meaningful second chances, mercy and justice.

On January 17, the coalition released this statement:

“Today, President Biden issued the largest single-day individual clemency action in history. The President granted clemency to nearly 2500 individuals sentenced under outdated and disparate drug laws. In recent years, Congress took steps to equalize these sentencing disparities through the Fair Step Act under President Obama and the First Step Act under President Trump.

With his clemency action and through actions taken under his DOJ President Biden eliminated the crack-powder disparity altogether for thousands of people currently in federal prison – a disparity that overwhelmingly harmed Black and Latino people throughout the War on Drugs.
This clemency action moves us closer to ending a sordid chapter in the War on Drugs that contributed to the era of mass incarceration and many negative consequences for communities of color. The recipients of the clemency will return to their communities in the coming months and years and will receive both supervision and support through the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services.
This clemency cements President Biden’s legacy as a prolific justice reformer who was guided by a sense of fairness and equanimity.
We are proud to stand with President Biden and we fully support his efforts to bring our nation forward with a fair and accountable justice system, offering rehabilitation and second chances.”
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About J2C (Justice & a 2nd Chance) Coalition

The J2C (Justice & a 2nd Chance) Coalition is a broad and diverse array of groups opposed to the death penalty and sentencing disparities in our criminal justice system. Their groups represent a range of perspectives and ideals but are united behind building a more fair American justice system and providing second chances.

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